While the public may be most familiar with helium's buoyancy - which makes it ideal for filling birthday balloons, Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade figures and airships - helium has many other irreplaceable uses:
Liquid helium is unique among all elements in that it can reach ultra-low temperatures, close to absolute zero (-273.15°C). Research conducted at such low temperatures led to the discovery of superconductivity and has led to many applications, including magnetically levitated high-speed trains.
Helium's cooling properties are indispensable for scientific research and medical diagnostic equipment, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machines, nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometers and even the Large Hadron Collider.
Helium is used to cool nuclear reactors and keep rocket fuel cool during launch.
Due to its inert nature, helium provides a protective atmosphere for the manufacture of optical fiber, semiconductors and arc welding.
Deep-sea divers breathe a mixture of helium and oxygen, which helps them avoid the dangers of "decompression sickness."
